(I work for a company which interacts with senior engineers in the US government. This conversation takes place with a senior engineer in a well-known space organization.)

Engineer: “That’s a funny accent you have there. Where are you from?”

Me: “Canada, sir.”

Engineer: “AH! G’DAY MATE!”

Me: “Canadian, not Australian, sir.”

Engineer: “Well, what’s the difference?”

Me: “Well, for starters, Canada is the country right above you to the north.”

Engineer: “No it isn’t! Russia is above us!”

Me: “And between Russia and you is Canada, sir.”

Engineer: “Liar! Sarah Palin said that she could see Russia from her backyard! Why do you think that places like New York and Boston are full of communists?! Because of the Russians being so close to them!”

Me: “Sir, I have you here as senior engineer at [organization]. How does one become senior?”